Packaging machine



' Feb. 17,1925. 1,526,757

. W. G. MUELLER PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5. 1921 wa s I Patented Feb. 17 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. MUELLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ALEC. J. GERRARD, OF CICERO, ILLINOIS.

raoxneme mom.

Application filed August 3, 1921. Serial No. 489,543.

erated, to be positioned upon the object to.

be tied.

The principal objects of this invention reside in the provision, in a ma hine of the character described, of means for facilitating the arrangement of the unitary members which together comprise the shook invertical stacked alignment, means for coma pressing the shook into compact form by applying pressure on the upper surface there of, means for moving the wire-tying device into operative relation with the shook, and means for releasing said pressure and removing, the wire-tying device following the tying operation of the latter.

Other objects of the invention will be come apparent as the nature of the machine is more fully. understood from the following description and accompanying "sheet of drawings-wherein is set forth what is at present considered to be a preferred embodi- -ment of the several features of the invention.

Thisparticulai' structural embodiment, however, is presentedmainly for the purpose of exemplifying the invention and is not in tended 'to' restrict unnecessarily the spirit rear of the table portion 10 to an elevated of the same or scope of the claims.

In the drawin Fig.1

is a front elevation of the machine;

-Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring now" in detail to the'drawing, it. will be observed that the machine therein disclosed is characterized by a substantially fiat table portionlO which is supported on legs 11. An upright structure 12, which is preferably formed integral with the rear legs of the machine, extends upwardly and then forwardly; from a point adjacent the point approximately over the center of the same, and is there bifurcated and apertured to journal the fulc-ruming pin 1 of a medially supported lever 15. V J

The previously mentioned table portion 10 has associated therewith on its upper surface two vertical stop plates 16 and 17 which. are assembled perpendicularly to each other and to the surface of the table whereby to form a' corner guide adapted to facilitate the, positioning thereon of rectangularly shaped shooks and the like. The plate 16 is flanged at its base and is adjustably secured to the table portion by means of bolts 18 which pass'through the .said fiangte'and engage against the underside of slots 19 cut in the table portion from the frontthereof to a point adjacent the rear. The plate 17 is flanged at the end thereof adjacent the plate 16 and is secured to thesame by meansof'bolts 20, which pass through the flanged portion of this plate and engage against the rear sides of slots 2l-cut into one end of the plate 16. By the employment of the stop plates'and their mounting hereabove pedal 24 and the rear end 25 being pivotally secured at 26 to the lower end of a vertically reciprocating rod 27 which passes upwardly through a guide bracket 28 formed integrally with the upright structure 12 of the machine frame at a point adjacent the rear of the table portion 10. The upper end 29 of this rod passes through an aperture in the rear end of the aforesaid lever 15 and is A similar collar 31 is positioned on the rod 27 above the guide bracket 28. A helical spring 32 encompasses that portion of the rod 27 between the end of the lever 15 and collar 31, while a similar spring 33 encomwill first be moved laterally and then return to aposition thereabove to prevent the foot lever from moving upwardly again under actuation of the spring 33 until tripped by movement of the hand lever to the left.

The forward portion of the lever 15 extends over the table 10, and is provided at its extreme end 38 with a vertical aperture adapted to receive a downwardly extending rod 39. A clamp 40 co-acts with this aperture and permits the rod 39 to be gripped rigidly at any point along its length by the end 38 of the lever 15. A pressure block 41 is carried by the lower end of the rod 39 in.

front of the stop plates 16 .and 17 and is horizontally apertured near its top to receive a short axially movable rod 42 which projects -forwardly therefrom and terminates in a rectangular slotted member 43 extending parallel to but spaced inwardly from and above the front face of the machine.

The slot in'this member is adapted to receive a headed pin 44 to which is attached at its lower end a wire-tying device 45 of that portable type which is adapted in operation to be positioned upon the topof the object to be wired; Thus it.will be seen that themembers-42, 43 and 44 comprise a loose connection by means of which the wire tying device 45 is supported'by the pressure block 41 and its associated parts. In other words, from Figure 2 it will be seen that when the .e1ement 41 is in its compressed position, the

element'42 does not exert any pressure upon the wire tightening machine 45, but there exists a space or daylight between the part 43 of the element 42 and the top of the ma-- chine 45. That is,.the machine 45 is free to move downwardly with relation to the part 43, under the action of gravity and to only restwith its weight upon the shook package. The particular device here disclosed is capable of automatically tensioning, twisting and cutting wire ends during the formation of a loop of wire about the object, but the particular construction and details of operation of the same need not be set forth here inasmuch as any device of this type may be employed in conjunction with the machine of this invention. When the pressure block 41, through pressure of the foot lever 22, has

been brought to bear upon the upper surface of the shook 46 or other object to be compressed and tied, the elevation of the rectangular member 43 carrying the wire-tying device is such relative to the said device that there yet remains a sufiicient amount of vertical clearance between the said member 43 and the device to permit free movement of asse ses H the latter forwardly, backwardly and lat- 'erally.

The operation of the machine will now be described. When the foot lever 22 after having been depressed is released by means of the hand lever 34 the spring 33 forces the rod 27 downwardly to a position wherein the collar 31 abuts against the guiding collar 28. As-the rod 27 moves downwardly the collar 30 on the rod contacts with the end 29 of the lever 15 and raises the pressure member 41 and wire-tying device 45 from the upper surface of the shock to a position thereabove, whereupon the shook 46 which has been packaged may be removed from the table 10. The unitary members of the next shook to be packaged are now placed on the table with their rear edges and one of their side edges in contact with the stop plates 16 and brings the pressure block 41 and wiretying device 45 into contact with the upper most of the said unitary members composing the shook. As the foot lever 22 is still further depressed the spring 32 on the rod 27, acting between the collar 31 of the said rod and the 'end 29 of the lever 15 exerts a pressure on the said lever end which is transmitted through the lever 15 and rod 39 to the pressure block 41, thereby placing the shook under compression; The foot lever 22 upon reaching the bottom of its stroke is automatically held in its depressed position by the previously described latching action of the lower end of the hand lever 34. and the shook will accordingly remain under compression until relieved by operation of the said hand lever. During this compression of the shook no pressure is exerted thereon by the wire-tying device since the clearance previously described between the member 43 and the device is such as to preclude a binding of the latter against the shock when the former with the pressure block 41 is lowered.

The previously mentioned slot in the member 43 functions to allow the device 45 to move freely parallel to the front face of the machine-a movement which is found most advantageous during the tensioning operation of the wire-tying device. Movement of the said device toward or away from the pressure block 41 is also permitted because of the sliding movement of the rod 42 transversely of the pressure block.

In order to support conveniently the lengths of cut wire intended for use with the wire-tying device, integral forwardly extending brackets 47 may be advantageously provided on the forward legs 11 of the machine as shown.

It Will be appreciated thatthe pressure applied to the shook by the pressure block 4.1 may be readily increased or decreased by varying with the clamp the point of attachment of the lever on the rod 39.

While the foregoing description of the manner in which the machine is operated has, for the purpose of exemplification, been confined to the employment of the same in tion to permit a sufiicient-clearance between the box end and the front of the table, resultim -when the wire tying machine is brought into operation-in the formation of neat wire loops which are parallel to and at a'uniform distance from, each of the box ends.

Where, as is often the case. a single loop of wire is desired about each box at its center the pressure means performs an important function regardless of whether or not compressive'action on thebox is actually required. In placing the loop about each box at its center, itwill be appreciated that the box must extend over the front-edge of the table for slightly more than one-halfits length in what would normally be an unbalanced position. Under these conditions the actuation of the pressure means serves not- -only to compress the box but to hold the same firmly in a horizontal position during the operation of the wire tying mechanism and until released.

Another noteworthy feature of the invention resides in the fact that no pressureother than the weight of the wire tying mechanism which is negligibleis exerted by the said mechanism on the 'object, whe reby free lateral movement of the former relative to the latter may be had in any direction during the operation of the machine.

, I claim:

1. The combination with mechanism for securing together under tension the, ends of a wire looped about on object; of a table r for supporting the object; means movable toward and from the object; a spring to apply pressure to said objectthrough said means; a second spring to move said means away from. said object and a connection between said mechanism and movable means permitting said mechanism to rest on said object under the action of gravity.

2. The combination with mechanism for securing together under tension the ends of a wire looped about an object; of a table for supporting the object; compressing means movable toward and from the object; loose connections for supporting said mechanism from said means; a spring to apply pressure to said object through said means; and a second spring to move 'said means away from said object.

8. The combination with a wire tying machine adapted to secure together under tension the ends of a wire looped about an object of a vertically movable compressing member; means for adjustably supporting said machine from said member including a loose connection therebetween; and means ber into its compressing position.

4. The combination with a wire tying machine provided with a pin adapted to secure together under tension the ends of a wire looped about an object of a vertically movable compressing member; means comprising a longitudinally adjustable rod for supporting said wire tying machine from said vertically movable member; a slotted horizontally disposed member associated with said pin and rigid with said rod loosely connected to said wire tying machine; and means comprising a spring for moving said compressing member into its compressing position. I 5. The combination with mechanism for securing together. under tension the ends'of a wire looped about an object, of a table for supporting the object, means for applying pressure to the object in the direction of the table, and means for moving the wire securing mechanism into operative relation to the object, one of said means including asingle control member for releasing the mechanism from its operative relation.

6. The combination with mechanism for securing together under tension the ends of a wire looped about an object, of a table for supporting the object, means for applying spring pressure to the object in the direction of the table, and means coupled with the above mentioned means for moving the wire securing mechanism into operative relation to the object upon the said application of pressure thereto, one of said means including a single control member for releasing the pressure and removing the wire securing mechanism from its operative relation.

7. The combination with a wire tying machine of a support for the object to be tied; a compressing member adapted to exert pressure on said object; means for locking said member in operative position; an adjustable means carried by said compressing member supporting said machine; and a loose slidable connection between said adjustable means and said wire tying mas chine whereby the exerted pressure is transmitted to said object through said compressing member only.

8. In a wire packaging machine the combination of a support for the package to be wired; a foot lever; a rod actuated by said lever; a second lever connected to said rod; a member carried by said second lever adapted to press on the package to be wired; and a wire tying machine loosely connected to said member and adapted to secure together the ends of a wire looped around said package.

9. In a wire packaging machine the combination of a support for the package to be wired; a foot lever; a rod actuated by said lever; a second lever connected to said rod; a member carried by said second lever adapted to press on the package to be wired; means carried by said member I adapted to adjustably support a wire tying machine; and a wire tying machine loosely connected to said means adapted to secure together the ends of a wire looped around said package.

10. In a wire packaging machine the combination of a table adapted to support an object to be" wired; a pressure block; a spring to apply pressure to said object through said block; a second spring to move said block away from said object; a wire ty-' ing machine adapted to rest on said object and connections between said machine and said block by which no pressure is exerted on said. machine from said block;

11. In a wire packaging machine the Leade s? combination of a table adapted to support an object to be wired; a pressure block; asource of power; a spring to apply pressure to said object through said block; a second spring to move said block away from said object; connections between said block and said source of power for supporting said springs; a wire tying machine adapted to rest on said object; and connections between saidmachine and said block by which no pressure is exerted on said machine from said block; o

12. In a wire packaging machine the combination ofv a table adapted to support an object to be wired; a pressure block; a spring to apply pressure to said object through said block; a second spring to move said block away from said object; a wire tying machine adapted to rest on said object; and loose slidable connections between said machine and said block by which no pressure is exerted on saidmachine fro said block. x v

13. In a wire packaging machine the combination of a table adapted to support an object to be wired; a pressure block; a spring to apply pressure to said object through said block; a. second spring to move said block away from said object; a wire tying machine adapted to rest on said object; and connections between'said machine and said block comprising a headed pin and a slotted member, by which no presblock.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sure is exerted on said'machine from said I 

